It’s an exhibition, but it’s still a competition. Someone has to win (the West, 152-149). Someone has to lose.

We’re here to sort it all out for you. The winners. The losers. And even how you can be both.

Winner: Kevin Durant. The game MVP did it all — he had maybe the best dunk of the night (off the backboard from Chris Paul), hit 3 threes, and added to his legacy as one of the game’s elite players. When the game was open he owned it, but he only had two points in the fourth quarter as the East picked up its defensive intensity and focused it on him. But his MVP is well deserved and likely the first of several.

Loser: Dwight Howard. This was supposed to be his night and laughed, joked around, played at one-quarter speed and was a complete non-factor. In a sign of how serious he took everything, he was 0-4 from three. He got dunked on by Kevin Love, made a bad inbounds pass after that which was stolen, then five seconds later Kevin Durant dunked on him. He likely was tired after playing host all weekend, but he was a mess.
Winner: LeBron James. He put up 36 points and if the East had succeeded with their comeback he would have deserved the MVP. In the first half he was a dunking machine, then he comes out at the start of the third quarter and knocks down a couple threes, including one from about Daytona. He had eight points in the fourth quarter and was key to the East’s comeback.

Loser: LeBron James. He is never going to hear the end of that pass with 1.9 seconds left that was stolen by Blake Griffin and cost the East a shot to tie or take the lead. Because it was a terrible pass. Kobe was barking at LeBron to take the shot, but LeBron said afterward he saw Wade come open near the basket the first time but hesitated then when he threw the pass it got picked off. And the “LeBron is not clutch” meme gains more fuel. Only a ring will quiet it (and likely a couple are needed).

Winner: Kobe Bryant. Any time you pass Michael Jordan in anything – this time to become the all-time leading scorer in All-Star Game history — you are a winner. Kobe being in 14 All-Star Games is a tribute not only to his skill but also to how well he has taken care of his body and how he has been able to stay relatively healthy. Or at least play through the pain.

the Wizards have shown little appetite for dealing Otto Porter anywhere for a return heavy on future assets and cap flexibility, sources say

John Wall‘s massive contract looked barely movable even before he underwent season-ending surgery. Washington seems unwilling to take a step back by trading star Bradley Beal.

So, that leaves unloading Porter – who’s earning $26,011,913 this year and due $55,739,815 over the next two seasons – as the obvious way to create cap flexibility and accumulate future assets. If the Wizards are unwilling to do that, it speaks volumes to their plan.

They don’t want to rebuild. They want to win now. Porter can help them do that.

In many ways, it’s noble Washington is so committed to winning, even at great expense. That’s generally what we want from teams. We don’t want them to give up or cut costs just because they’re a couple games out of playoff position midway through the season.

But the Wizards’ spending has been… uneven. Leonsis greenlit a payroll well into the luxury tax and is apparently willing to keep Porter, which likely keeps that payroll high. Yet, Washington is also holding as many roster spots vacant as allowed, offering small savings rather than adding depth amid multiple injuries.

Maybe the Wizards just don’t believe they could sign minimum-salary players who’d actually help. But insurance never hurts on the court.

So, Washington is left looking content holding its few major contracts, nickeling-and-diming down the roster, winning a barely moderate amount and not gaining better position for the future. I’m unconvinced that’s a worthy vision, but if that’s what the Wizards want, keeping Porter helps stay that course.

Boston Celtics guard Marcus Smart has been fined $35,000 for aggressively pursuing an opponent in an attempt to escalate a physical altercation and failing to leave the court in a timely manner following his ejection, it was announced today by Kiki VanDeWeghe, Executive Vice President, Basketball Operations.

The incident, which took place after Smart was assessed his second technical foul and was ejected, occurred with 7:35 remaining in the third quarter of the Celtics’ 113-105 victory over the Atlanta Hawks on Jan. 19

Smart was seemingly near the line between this fine and a suspension. He’s fortunate to land on the side he did.